Lyla Lindsey
On 10 September 1898, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was assassinated in Geneva, Switzerland. She was stabbed in the heart by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni. Elisabeth was travelling incognito, without her entourage, despite warnings of possible assassination attempts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 September 1898 |
| Location | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Assassin | Luigi Lucheni |
| Assassin's Nationality | Italian |
| Assassin's Age | 25 |
| Assassin's Weapon | Sharpened triangular file |
| Weapon Length | 4 inches |
| Weapon Type | Homemade stiletto |
| Time of Death | 2:10 p.m. |
What You'll Learn
Elisabeth's assassin, Luigi Lucheni, was an Italian anarchist
Luigi Lucheni, the Italian anarchist who assassinated Elisabeth of Austria, was 25 years old when he committed the act. He had travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, with the intention of assassinating Prince Henri Philippe Marie d'Orléans as a protest against the plutocracy. However, when he learned that his intended victim had cancelled his visit to the city, he changed his plans.
On the day of the assassination, Lucheni lay in wait for Elisabeth and her companion, Countess Irma Sztáray, on the lake promenade. He attacked the Empress with a sharpened triangular file, inflicting a small but fatal wound to her heart. The force of the blow caused her to fall to the ground, but she stood up immediately, believing she had been punched. She boarded a steamship, where she soon collapsed, and was carried back to her hotel. She died of internal bleeding.
Lucheni was arrested at the scene and stood trial, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He hanged himself in his cell in 1910.
Austria-Hungary's Serfdom: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
He had travelled to Geneva to assassinate a prince
Luigi Lucheni had travelled to Geneva to assassinate a prince. He was an Italian anarchist full of rage for the upper nobility, and his intended victim was Prince Henri Philippe Marie d’Orléans. However, the prince had cancelled his visit to the city at short notice.
When Lucheni read in the newspaper that Empress Elisabeth of Austria was in Geneva, he changed his plans. He watched the comings and goings of the Empress and her companion, Countess Irma Sztáray, at their hotel. He then lay in wait for the two women at the lake promenade. Using a sharpened triangular file, he attacked the Empress, inflicting a small but fatal wound to the heart.
The force of the blow caused her to fall to the ground, but she stood up again immediately. She thanked the people who had noticed the incident and hurried to catch a steamship. She boarded the boat, believing she had merely been punched, but then collapsed unconscious. She died of internal bleeding.
Stream England vs Austria: US Viewing Options
You may want to see also
He stabbed Elisabeth with a sharpened triangular file
On the 10th of September 1898, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was assassinated by an Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni. The 25-year-old had travelled to Geneva with the intention of assassinating a member of the nobility to protest against the plutocracy. His original target was Prince Henri Philippe Marie d’Orléans, but when the prince cancelled his visit to the city, Lucheni changed his plans.
On the day of the attack, Elisabeth was walking along the lake promenade with her companion, Countess Irma Sztáray, when Lucheni attacked the empress with a sharpened triangular file. The blow inflicted a small but fatal wound to her heart. The force of the attack caused Elisabeth to fall to the ground, but she quickly got up, thanked those who had rushed to help, and continued on her way to board the steamship.
Believing she had simply been punched, Elisabeth boarded the boat, only to collapse unconscious moments later. Countess Sztáray noticed a small bloodstain on the empress's chemise and realised that she had been stabbed. Elisabeth was carried back to her hotel, where doctors were unable to save her life. She died of internal bleeding.
The weapon used by Lucheni was a small, sharpened triangular file, around 4 inches (10 cm) long. It was inserted into a wooden handle and used to file the eyes of industrial needles. Lucheni threw the file away after the attack, and it was found the next day by a concierge during their morning cleaning.
Mailing Vyvanse to Austria: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
She died of internal bleeding
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, was stabbed in the chest by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni on September 10, 1898. She died of internal bleeding.
On the day of her assassination, Elisabeth was travelling incognito in Geneva, Switzerland, with her lady-in-waiting, Countess Irma Sztáray. She had received an invitation from the Rothschild family and was walking from the Hotel Beau-Rivage to the steamship 'Genève' when Lucheni attacked.
Lucheni had initially planned to kill the Duke of Orléans but changed his plans when he read of the Empress's visit to Geneva in the newspaper. He lay in wait for the two women at the lake promenade and attacked the Empress with a sharpened triangular file, inflicting a small but fatal wound to her heart.
The force of the blow caused Elisabeth to fall to the ground, but she stood up immediately, believing she had been punched. She thanked those who had rushed to help and hurried to catch the steamship. However, she soon collapsed unconscious and was carried back to the hotel, where doctors were unable to save her life.
The wound to Elisabeth's thorax had fractured her fourth rib, pierced her lung and pericardium, and penetrated her heart. The tightness of her corset slowed the bleeding, but she ultimately died of internal bleeding.
Lucheni was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment. He hanged himself in his cell in 1910.
LG Aristo: Austria Compatibility and Network Coverage
You may want to see also
Her funeral was attended by over 80 kings, queens, and noblemen
Empress Elisabeth of Austria's funeral procession was a grand affair, with mourners from across Europe in attendance. The funeral took place on 17 September 1898, two days after her body arrived at the Hofburg in Vienna. The day was cool and sunny, with mourning flags draped across the city, and crowds gathered along the procession route. Monarchs, archbishops, bishops, ministers, officials, and knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece were among the mourners. The Emperor Franz Joseph, Elisabeth's husband, accompanied the coffin, along with their two surviving daughters, Gisela and Marie Valerie.
The procession made its way through the quiet streets of Vienna, with the sound of bells tolling. The horses' hooves and carriage wheels were muffled by sand that had been spread on the streets. The coffin, covered in black velvet, was carried to the Imperial Crypt at the Church of the Capuchin Friars, where Elisabeth was interred. Eighty-two sovereigns and high-ranking nobles were among those who followed the funeral cortege.
The funeral procession was a sombre affair, with the Emperor breaking down in tears as he said his final farewell to his wife. Marie Valerie, the couple's youngest daughter, wrote in her diary, expressing her wish for her mother to find peace. The Empress Frederick, Queen Victoria's daughter, wrote to her mother, reflecting on Elisabeth's melancholy and unhappiness.
The funeral of Empress Elisabeth was a significant event, with mourners and well-wishers gathering to pay their respects to the Empress, who had captivated the public with her beauty and charm.
Purchasing Austrian Citizenship: Is it Possible?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
On 10 September 1898, while visiting Geneva, Switzerland, Empress Elisabeth of Austria was stabbed in the heart with a self-made weapon by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.
Lucheni was a 25-year-old poor man filled with rage for the upper nobility. He had travelled to Geneva to assassinate a member of the ruling class. His intended victim was Prince Henri Philippe Marie d’Orléans, but when that plan was thwarted, he targeted the Empress.
Elisabeth did not initially realise she had been stabbed, and she walked to and boarded a steamship. However, she soon collapsed and lost consciousness. She was carried back to her hotel, where doctors were unable to save her life. She died of internal bleeding.
